THE DAY I GOT SCARED!!

Have you seen people getting scared? Have you seen a man running on road ahead of a group of wild dogs? Have you seen people getting scared before an interview? Have you seen a thief running for his life? Now there can be many such instances where people are terrified and their tension can be easily felt. Just look into their eyes and you will realize how much pressure they are in. In all these situations, the person who is afraid can do himself a favor and can get out of it.

Now imagine a situation in which you can’t do anything but pray to God that everything goes out well. I tell you what happened last week. I had an exam and by coincidence my neighbor also filled that exam and got the same centre. We agreed to go together. For me it was a welcome change from my usual companion “Bajaj Chetak”.

Exam timing was 2-4 p.m. Reporting time was 1:30.We had to take along a photograph with us. I reached his home at 11:00 and found him in his underpants searching his drawer to get photograph. At 11:10 he gave up and decided to go without it. He had 2 cars. One Maruti 800- 1992 Model and another Santro-2006 model. He sat in Maruti, disappointing me for the second time. He tried to start 6-8 times but couldn’t do it. I hoped he didn’t tell me to push a little. My inner voice told me that all is not well. I asked him to go on santro. I tried to be as generous as I could but it was 11:20 by my watch.

Finally we left at 11:25. He told me that this car doesn’t have petrol. We went to the nearest petrol pump and he wanted to make payment by credit card but their machine was not working. I gave 100 bucks and left. My watch showed 11:40.

He was continuously talking on phone, fixing the place and time to meet up his friends in evening to go on some party. He didn’t mind breaking signals. He didn’t fasten his seat belt. He didn’t mind touching 100Km/hr every now and then. He didn’t mind abusing rickshaw pullers for not giving him side. All this was making me crazy. As I was hoping that cops don’t stop us, he abruptly stopped the car near a small shop on the roadside and brought 2 cigararettes. And between all this, he was as calm as a cucumber. Whenever he found space he did’t mind converting his 1100cc car to an aircraft.

I sneaked 2min from his continuous phone calls and asked “don’t you get afraid”. He laughed at me and said “don’t you worry my friend, you will reach on time”. His sweet words could hardly embrace me. Suddenly he stopped the car again and told that it seems the tyre has got punctured. I was chocked for a min. He opened the door and took a 360 degree round checking all 4 tyres. He came back and said everything is fine. “Don’t you worry my friend, you will reach on time”.

Finally after all those hiccups we reached 10 min before time. Credit goes to his avg speed 80km/hr and breaking signals. Reaching on time was like going in the mouth of lion and coming back safely.

That day I realized how difficult it is when your life’s steering is in other’s hand. Don’t let anyone drive your life like this.

DREAMING HIGH!!

There are 3D’s in life : Desire, Determination & Dedication. You will need all the three to reach new heights; but, it all starts with the 4^thD… Dreams. This was an sms which I received some days ago from one of my dearest friend.

Everyone talks of dreams, but no-one tells how to get dreams. I think, there is something which is required to start dreaming. I mean, that if you don’t know what you are missing in life, then you can’t dream. Am I being too philosophical here?? Ok let me explain with an example.

Last year, I went to Auto -Show being organized at Pragati Maidan. There were 100s of new models of sparkling new cars. As I was going through my eyes caught Mercedes Benz (S-class). I went there and asked for a try. I sat inside for 2 min, held the steering and gave a pose, not because to show it off later to my friends; but to continuously remind myself that this is “THE IDEAL” car. I don’t know if I would ever own it, but now since I know what it feels like to be sitting in one of the most luxurious and costliest car of the world; I can start dreaming about it.

Once you start realizing you dreams, you start working hard to achieve them. But I have seen many of us lose determination in the tough race of life. At that time, one must get an opportunity to remind himself and again start working towards it. How about giving a lift to a poor fellow who has to walk daily for several kilometers? There can be many other such ways which YOU & I can do seamlessly and be a symbol of great motivation to both rich and poor people. Rich people will no longer be complacent and boastful. In this way both rich and poor people will start respecting each other and will do a great for our society.

I don’t know if I am talking any sense to you all, but still, this is what I feel. It’s the “EXPERIENCE” that is required to get dreams. Keep enjoying those experiences so that you keep DREAMING HIGH!!

“HE THROWS AT ME A PEACH, I GIVE HIM A PLUM”

There are two types of people in this world:-

1.) Who lose their temper at every other second, and

2.) Who remain calm for most of the time but when they lose it, as some learned people say, “they spark the damp firewood”.

I think the later ones are quite dangerous and guess what??; by God’s grace I fall into the same category. I am not telling you all this so that you fear of me.

I haven’t have fights at all in my life except those “cat fights” with my sis which still happens daily on almost all things. I am talking of the serious fights, which include punches in the stomach, powerful kicks, which leads to the blood flowing from nostrils to mouth, to neck and the blackened swollen eye; before a group of people come in between you. It all looks like the same bollywood films, but it actually happens. I, myself have come so many times in between my friends and sometimes enjoyed their contretemps, but never got a chance to be the cynosure of all eyes. Not that I fear of them, but I choose to avoid them.

I have seen people in my family fighting for property, money and all other issues that you can think of. At that time I was too young to take part in one. I tell you, it was till date, worst time of my life.

I always believe that it’s not the physical strength that matters, it’s the mental strength and the grandness of heart which holds the key. At that time, whenever there used to be a WWE match in our veranda, I used to run to the terrace away from anything, everything. I used to weep, yell, pray to god.

Gradually, the situation improved, but I didn’t stop going on to the terrace. I still go for a daily stroll in the evening away from all the routine works; where I am all by myself, gazing towards the sky, towards the birds flying back to their abode, the setting sun and the dark clouds spreading all over the sky. It’s all that serene beauty of nature that has now become my old friend and there is one corner on terrace which is still the best part of my home.

And all I can say now that these things, have made me mentally strong to face the life ahead.

MONSOON RAINS!!

MONSOON RAINS!! How eagerly we all wait for the monsoon rains after being baked in the sun for almost four consecutive months. I want to ask all of you:- is there someone amongst you, who hates rains?? If yes, just let me know :-)

In northern India, the summer comprises of almost 8 months with people craving for rains, but I hate them. I know you must be thingking that this man is crazy. I'll tell you why. The rains come and there is sudden change in temperature. Due to these unannounced variations in temperatures, I catch what you commonly know to be “common cold”. As the name suggests, it’s quite common among people, but the consequences of “common-cold” in my case are not very common. What follows, is sneezing spree at least 10 times a min, a blocked nose and the headache. And if I don’t take medicines on time it can get me viral fever. This is what I've been going throuh for the last 20 yrs - every time there is attraction between the positive charge of earth and negative charge of clouds (right, na?). The scent of the wet ground which is appreciated almost by everyone, is one of the foulest odors for me.

Secondly, whenever it rains, all work comes to a halt. Thanks to our inadequate drainage system. The situation really worsens in my area. I can’t go out for work. The population of skeeters surge with a rate of 10^10 every minute.

Last week, the Lord Indra became generous for the first time this season and it was raining cats and dogs. I went out in veranda and I saw a young girl of around 5yrs old enjoying the rain in her veranda. She was soon joined by her younger sister. As the younger one came, she fell down. She stood up and put her right leg forward and fell down again. But she never cried. She stood up again and warily came out. Both started to enjoy the rain with their arms stretched, facing the sky with eyes closed. They cuddled each other as I stood there watching them. The first time I realized how much do people love rain. I wanted to become part of their celebrations. Soon their mom came and admonished them and took them in.

That day I realized what I am missing in life. Keep enjoying the rains so that I keep enjoying watching you.